Mobile operator O2 has built a 4G mast on the remote Scottish island of South Uist as part of the government’s efforts to reach 100% coverage in ‘total not-spot’ areas.

In 2020, an agreement known as the Shared Rural Network (SRN) was signed by all major operators – EE, O2, Three and Vodafone – to share some of their masts and infrastructure to deliver 95% coverage across the whole of the UK by the end of 2025.

As of September 2024, 94.9% of the UK’s landmass has 4G coverage from at least one operator – an increase from 91% when the SRN program began.

The investment also came with £500m in public funding to eliminate total not-spots – typically hard-to-reach areas where there is currently no coverage from any operator. Network operators also committed an additional £532m to the project.

While O2 built the mast on South Uist, which has an estimated population of less than 2,000 people, users of all mobile networks will be able to access signal from the tower. It will provide coverage to...